Adjustable automatic tile-machine.



No. 898,530. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

H. A. LOW & L" P. CARTER.

ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC TILE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

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PATENTED JULY 1 H. A. LOW & L. P. CARTER.

ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC TILE MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.12, 1907.

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, N0. 898,530. PATBNTED JULY 14, 1908.

H. A. LOW & L. P. CARTER.

ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC TILE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1907.

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0/294 0 7 i 5457 w E67 55 4 /55 g \"W 7 g 57 V1 In 0 g 2 i 5 5 5 3 6 7 5 3 1-. M i l 1. M A 7L7 ,J 50 l 5 4% n #7 53 W i y g 5% HAROLD A. LOW AND LOUIS P. CARTER, OF LAKE CITY, IOWA.

ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC TILE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application filed August 12, 1907. Serial No. 388,729.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HAROLD A. Low and LoUIs P. CARTER, citizens of the i United States, residing at Lake City, in the county of Calhoun and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Automatic Tile- Machine, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for making, molding or manufacturing tile of concrete or similar substance adapted to be packed or tamped into a mold.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for tile tamping machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for raising and lowering a former adapted to give shape and contour to the interior of a tile during the operation of molding an object.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for giving shape and finish to the terminal end portion of a tile after the same has been tamped in a mold.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for cushioning tamping devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for supporting tile molds.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in our claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the complete ma chine, the dotted lines indicating positions assumed by some of the parts during the operation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail, partly in section, of a part of the driving mechanism.- Fig. 4 is a detail elevation, partly in section, showing a mold, a support for the mold, a former within'the, mold and the tamping and feeding mechanism within and above the mold. side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the means employed to separatethe tamping mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail, partly .in section, of the connection between a former and a shaft.

In the construction of the machine as shown, a supporting frame is provided, which frame consists of two pairs of upright legs or standards 10, 11.v The legs of'each Fig. is an enlarged pair are connected by cross-bars 12, 13 and the pairs of legs, or standards, are rigidly connected by cross-bars 14, at their bottoms, by cross-bars 15 resting on the bars 12 and by cross-bars 16 resting on the bars 13. A shaft 17 is arranged horizontally and extends across the central portion of the machine.

"End portions of the shaft 17 are j ournaled in bearings 18, 19 supported on the central portions of the cross-bars 12. The bearing 19 is of double form or yoke construction as illustrated in Fig. 3. A pulley 20 is mounted rigidly on the shaft 17 and'may be belted or otherwise geared to a prime mover, (not shown). A bevel gear 21 is mounted on one end portion of the shaft 17 between the arms of the yoke bearing 19 and said gear meshes with a larger bevel gear 22 feathered to a shaft 23. The shaft 23 is journaled at the extremities of the arms of the yoke bearing 19. The bevel gear'22 is confined against vertical movement between the arms of the yoke bearing 19 and the shaft 23 may rise and fall through said bearing and gear as hereinafter explained. The spline connection between the gear 22 and shaft 23 is formed by means of a longitudinal groove 24 in the shaft adapted to receive a lug or feather 2 1 extending inwardly from the bore of the ear. g A spur gear 25 is mounted rigidly on the shaft 17 and meshes with a pinion 26 mounted rigidly on a shaft 27 above The shaft 27 is journaled in bearings 28 mounted on the central portions of' supporting bars 30, 31. A supporting bar 30 is carried by the cross-bars 15 and the supporting bar 31 is carried by legs 10 parallel therewith. A mutilated gear 29 is mounted rigidly on the shaft 27 adjacent the gear 26 and meshes with a rack 32 vertically positioned and slidingly mounted in a bearing 33 on a bar 12 and a bearing 34 on a cross-bar 16. The upper end portion 35 of the rack 32 extends to the top of the frame and is provided with an arm 36 projecting inwardly and attached to one end portion of a sprocket chain 37. The sprocket chain 37 runs over and is supported by a sprocket wheel 38 mounted on a shaft 39 j ournaled in bearings 40 carried by posts 411 on the crossbars 13. The posts 41 are connected to the cross-bars 16- by braces 42. The opposite end portion of the sprocket chain 37 is attached to the upper end of the shaft 23 by means of a swivel 43. A table 44 is mounted for revolution on a pivot 45 and is otherwise suitably supported by roller bearings on a base 44 adjacent to and extending laterally from the lower portion of the machine frame. Near its circumference the table 44 is provided with a plurality of vertical apertures or circular openings 46. The effective diameter of the circular openings 46 may be varied as desired by means of sizing rings 47 removably and replaceably mounted therein. The sizing rings 47 vary in interior diameter according to the interior diameter of the tile to be made thereon and are formed with annular depressions 48 on their upper surfaces adapted to receive and support the lower end portion of a tile to be formed thereon. Molds 49, of any desired construction, preferably made of sheet metal in semi-annular sections hinged and latched together, are mounted on the sizing rings 47, the lower end portions of the molds confined within the shoulders forming the walls of the annular depressions 48. The molds 49 also preferably are formed with circumferential outwardly extending beads 50, the function of which is to form circumferential ribs on the exterior of the tile molded therein. The

' sections of the molds 49 preferably are held together by hinges 51 and clasps 52 diametrically opposite each other. A cylindrical former 53 is provided and is formed with a frustum shaped upper end portion 54 apertured at its apex and threaded in the aperture. The former 53 is attached to the lower end portion of the shaft 23 by the threaded end portion of said shaft screwed into the threaded aperture of the frustum shaped portion 54 and such connection preferably is locked by a jam nut 54 on the shaft. A sleeve 56 is mounted loosely on the lower end portion of the shaft 23 and an annular tamper 55 surrounds and is concentric with said sleeve, and is connected thereto, by braces or arms 57. The tamper 55 extend-s below the lower end portion of the sleeve and is of slightly less diameter than the mold 49.. The tamper 55 is of a thickness slightly less than the thickness of a tile to be molded. An annular head 56 is formed on the upper end portion of the sleeve 56 and is of somewhat greater diameter than said sleeve. A lug 58 projects radially from the shaft 23 within the annular head 56" and engages beneath a spiral flange 59 formed on the interior of said head. A cap 61 is screwed on the annular head 56 and surrounds the shaft 23 loosely. A collar 62 is adjustably mounted on the shaft 23 above the cap 61 and an expansive spring 60 is mounted on said shaft between and implinging at its ends on the cap and collar. *xpansive coil spring 63 is mounted on the shaft 23 between and impinging at its ends on the jam 'nut 54 and the lower end of the sleeve 56. By means of the springs 60, 63,

the impact of the tamper 55 on the tile material or on the sizing ring 47 in the absence of tile material, is cushioned and made resilient. A hopper 64 is mounted on the upper end portion of the annular tamper 55 and it is the function of said hopper to receive concrete or other tile material and feed the same to the interior of the tamper. A rod 65 is fixed to and rises from the hopper 64 and is adapted for sliding engagement with a stop 66 fixed to one of the legs 10 and projecting inwardly therefrom. A su plemental frame 67 is fixed to and exten s inward from legs 10 adjacent the upper end portions of the molds 49 and semi-annular plates 69 are pivoted at their inner ends to said frame. Handles 68 are fixed to the outer end portions of the semi-annular plates 69 and extend partially across the revolving table 44.

The plates 69 normally stand open or separated as shown and the operation thereof hereinafter will be explained.

In the practical operation of the machine, sizing rings 47 of the desired diameter are mounted in the apertures 46 of the table 44. The table is positioned so that the former 53 may be lowered through the central opening of a sizing ring 47. In the initial position the former would be as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 and the lower end'of the tamper 53 would rest in the de ression 48 of the sizing ring 47. Then a mold 49 is mounted on the sizing ring and latched in. closed position as shown in Fig. 4. Then the mechanism is started to the rotation of the pulley frame and concrete is supplied to the mold through the hopper 64 and tamper 55 and feeds downward through and beneath said tamper into the annular space between the former 53 and the mold. As the shaft 17 is revolved, it re volves the shaft 27 and causes the mutilated gear 29 to engage the rack 32 and move said rack downward. As the rack 32 moves downward, the arm 36 thereon pulls the chain 37 over the wheel 38 and raises the shaft 23. In the ascent of the shaft 23, the former 53 is raised gradually through the mold 49. At the same time the shaft 17 acting through the bevel gears 21, 22 rotates the shaft 23 and causes the lug 58, in traveling engagement with the spiral flange 59, to lift the sleeve 56 and its head 56 against the resilience of the spring 60. In each revolution of the shaft 23, the lug 28 passes beyond the lower end of the spiral flange 59, thus permitting the sleeve 56 and its head 56 and the cap 61 to descend, partly through gravity and partly through expansion of the spring 60. In its descent the sleeve 56 carries the tamper 55 and hopper 64, all of which assist and hopper 64 rise and fall with the shaft 23; but that said members have a movement vertically independent and longitudinally of the shaft as ust described. This movement is short and quick and has a compass of the pitch of the spiral flange 59 only but is re peated with each revolution of the shaft 23. Concrete or other tile material is supplied through the hopper 64 until a tile is completed, packed and pounded to the top of the mold 50, whereupon the tamper leaves or rises above the mold and, thereupon, the handles 68 are approximated or brought to gether manually, thus moving the semi-annular plates 69 toward each other across the top of the mold and causing them to cut or screed the upper end of the newly formed tile and contact with the outer surface of the former. Immediately thereafter, the shaft 23 is raised sufficiently that the former 53 leaves the tile just formed in the mold 49. Then the table 44 is revolved to bring an other aperture 46 into registration with the former 53, whereupon the mutilated gear 34 disengages from the rack 32 and ermit said rack to rise and the shaft 23 an( former 53 and connected parts to fall into the initial position shown in relation to a sizing ring. Then another mold 49 is sup lied and the operation of building another t1 e is initiated, such operation being a duplicate of that hereinbefore described. At any convenient time the tile just made and the mold containing it can be removed from the table 44. The table is provided with a plurality of apertures 46 in order that several tile can accumulate on the table and be carried by it in succession to a convenient place for the re moval thereof.

We claim as our invention- 1. A tile machine, comprising a support formed with an aperture, a mold mounted on said support and surrounding said aperture,

a shaft mounted for rectilinear reciprocation and rotation axially of said aperture, a sleeve on said shaft, a former on said shaft and arranged for reciprocation and rotation in said aperture, annular feeding and tamping devices fixed to said sleeve, and means carried by said shaft and acting on said sleeve for raising said tamping devices.

2. A tile making machine, comprising a support formed with a vertical aperture, a sizing ring removablyand replaceablymounted in said aperture and centrally apertured,

said sizing rin formed with an annular depression, a moId mounted in the annular de pression of the sizing ring and extending up ward therefrom, a former arranged for reciprocation and rotation within the aperture of the sizing ring and concentric with the mold, a shaft fixed to and rising from the upper end portion of said former, mechanism forrevolving said shaft, mechanism for raising said shaft, and annular tamping devices carried loosely by said shaft and arranged for reciprocation only by said shaft within the mold.

3. A tile making machine, comprising a support formed with a vertical aperture, a mold mounted on said support concentric with said aperture, a former mounted through said aperture within said mold, a shaft fixed to said former, means for rotating said shaft, means for moving said shaft and former longitudinally, an annular tamper carried by said shaft, means for preventing rotation of said sleeve and annular tamper, and connections between said shaft and tamper whereby said tamper is reciprocated by and longitudinally of the shaft.

4. In a tile making machine, a support formed with a vertical aperture, a mold mounted on said support concentric with' said aperture, a former mounted through said aperture within said mold, a shaft fixed thereto, means for rotating and reciprocating said shaft and former, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, means for cushioning reciprocation of said sleeve relative to the shaft, a spiral flange on said sleeve, a lug on said shaft arranged for sliding engagement with said spiral flange to lift said sleeve, an annular tamper fixed to said sleeve and means for preventing rotation of said sleeve and annular tamper.

5. In a tile making machine, a former, a shaft fixed thereto, means for reciprocating and rotating said shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, a spring between said sleeve and former, a collar on said shaft,a spring between said collar and sleeve, a spiral flange on said sleeve, a lug on said shaft engaging said spiral flange, an annular tamper concentric with said sleeve and former and fixed to said sleeve, a rod on said annular tamper and a stop engaging said rod.

6. In a tile making machine, a shaft mounted for rotation and reciprocation, a former fixed to one end of said shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, a head formed on said sleeve, a spiral flange in said head, a lug on said shaft engaging said spiral flange, cushioning devices at either end of said sleeve, an annular tamper concentric with said sleeve and former and fixed to said sleeve, means for preventing rotation of said sleeve and tamper, and a hopper on said tamper.

7. In a tile making machine, a former mounted for rotation and having a frustumshaped upper end portion, a shaft fixed to the apex of the frustum-shaped end portion of the former, a mold surrounding said former, an annular tamper carried by said shaft and adapted for reciprocation thereby between said mold and the frustum-shaped end portion of the former, and means for preventing rotation of said tam er.

8. In a tile making mac ine, a shaft, a

former and tamping devices carried by said shaft, a drive shaft, beveled gearing between said drive shaft and first shaft, a countershaft, spur gearing between said drive shaft and counter-shaft, a rack, a mutilated gear on the counter-shaft engaging said rack, a chain swiveled to the first shaft, a wheel supporting the bight of said chain, and an arm connecting said rack to the opposite end of said chain.

9. A tamping shaft vertically mounted, a drive shaft horizontally mounted, bevel gearing between said shafts, a counter-shaft,

s ur gearing between the counter shaft and rive shaft, a chain swiveled to the upper end of the tamping shaft, a wheel supporting s asso the bight of said chain, a rack attached to the opposite end of said chain and arranged for vertical reciprocation, a mutilated gear on the counter-shaft engaging said rack, a former on the lower end of said tamping shaft, a sleeve on said shaft above saidforrner, a spiral flange on said sleeve, a lug on said tamping shaft engaging said spiral flange, an annular tamper fixed to said sleeve, a hopper on said tamper, a rod on said hopperand a stop adapted to engage said rod.

HAROLD A. LOW. LOUIS P. CARTER.

Witnesses:

D. O. BLUE, J. B. SMITH. 

